England thwarted by Sri Lanka tail

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- England face a final-day fight to save the second Test against Sri Lanka after being frustrated by the home side's lower-order batsmen on Wednesday.

Prasanna Jayawardene sweeps during his 79, watched by England wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

The tourists reached 48-0 at stumps on the fourth day after Sri Lanka declared their first innings at 548-9 -- a lead of 197 runs.

Sri Lanka, who won the first Test in Kandy thanks to a stunning last-session performance from spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, will be seeking more heroics from the world's leading Test wicket-taker on Thursday.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene had resumed on 167 along with Jehan Mubarak (2) as Sri Lanka sought to build on their 379-4 from day three.

Mubarak added just seven runs before becoming the second victim of fast bowler Steve Harmison after fending a short ball to Ian Bell at gully.

Jayawardene fell five runs short of his fourth double-hundred in Tests when he top-edged a sweep off spinner Monty Panesar to Paul Collingwood at first slip, leaving his side 420-6.

Debutant seamer Chris Broad claimed his first Test wicket when Chaminda Vaas could only hook a bouncer to Bell at first slip, then Panesar (2-151) trapped Lasith Malinga leg before wicket.

However, wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene and Dilhara Fernando then put on 98 runs for the ninth wicket to stretch Sri Lanka's lead.

Jayawardene passed 50 for the second successive match, making a patient 79 off 161 balls before gloving a rising delivery from Harmison to wicketkeeper Matthew Prior.

That dismissal prompted the declaration, with Fernando unbeaten on 36 from 82 deliveries.

England captain Michael Vaughan and fellow opener Alastair Cook, who put on 133 for the first wicket in the first innings, saw the tourists safely to the close of play.

Vaughan was on 28 and left-hander Cook had compiled 19 when the day was cut short 16 overs early due to bad light, with reports of imminent rain causing the groundsmen to rush covers out onto the pitch.

Harmison said: "It's one of those wickets where there wasn't a great deal in it for the seamers -- and we couldn't get it to reverse-swing either.

"It's been a long couple of days. We've had to fight hard. We hope we can bat all day tomorrow, come out with a draw and go to Galle to level the series."

Meanwhile, England batsman Kevin Pietersen -- who made just one run in the first innings -- has signed a new three-year deal with Hampshire, having joined the county from Nottinghamshire in 2005.

The 27-year-old, who was born and raised in South Africa, is sixth in the world batting rankings.